Clasp for bracelets



July 6 1926.

E. B. DONALDSON CLASP FOR BRACELETS Filed Dec. 26

HIS ATTORNEYS,

Patented July 6, 1926.

AUNITED STATES.

DWABD BRASIEB DONALDSON, F DOULASTON MANOR, NEW YORK.

- CLASP FOR BRACELETS.

Application le'd December 26, 1.925. Serial 11o. 77,799.

, l0 able clas s.

A furt er object is to provide an improved clasp in which the interlocking partsare so arranged that the pull tending to separate the parts of the bracelet is met by rigid n pieces of a substantial construction, and is in a direction which does not tend to `unclasp the article.

A furtherobject is to provide an improved clasp in which the entire interlocking mechanism is enclosed in a part of a size and a construction to permit it to be readily opened and closed and which may be appropriately decorated'with engraving so that. the clasp constitutes an ornamental part of the article.

The clasp of this appllcation is particularly an improvement over the clasp shown in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 35,302, filed June 6, 1925, in that the improved clasp accomplishes the same purposes with the use of a smaller quantity of metal, with a lesser amount of fabrication, and with fewer and simpler parts.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my improved clasp applied to the bracelet of a wrist watch, and in the said drawings- Fi 1 is a erspective View of the bracelet, s owing t e clasp closed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the clasp opened and parts of the bracelet omitted for convenience Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the' interlocking parts 1n engagement, and the cover-plate closed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 4-4f'of Fig. 1, sighting in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan vlew of a modified form of the clasp;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of a further modified form of the clasp, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of a still further modified form of the clasp.

Referrin to the drawings, and particularly to Flgs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 1 indicates the inner member of the clas attached in the usual manner to one end of) the bracelet or other article, which is here shown as a strap of gold mesh. The other part of the clasp is indicated at 2 and com risesl a housing 00 having a hinged cover 3 or enclosing the part 1 when the clasp is shut. The part 2 1s attached to the bracelet by means of a bar 4 clamped or soldered to the end of the mesh, and to this bar the main part or housing 2 is attached by a suitable hinge indicated at 5, in Fig. 2. The cover part 3 is hinged to the housing by means of a second hinge 6.

Cut into the side walls 8, of the housing 2, are a plurality of notches 7, here shown as six in number, and arranged in three pairs, whereby three adjustments of the length of the bracelet are provided. The number of the notches may be varied at the makers discretion.

The inner part 1, of the claspcomprises a iat bar or plate adapted to fit within the side walls 8, of the housing 2, said plate extending laterally from side wall to side Wall of the housing. The plate 1, is provided with tenons or projections 9 adapted to lit in the notches 7. The portion of the plate 1 back of the tenons 9, is of such a Width and shape as to Afit snugly between the side walls 8, of the housing 2, without any lateral or vertical play or motion, when the two parts of the clasp are engaged. When the plate 1 is engaged with the notches 7, as described, the cover 3 is closed down on the housing, thereby holding the tenons in the notches, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a modification of my invention. In this construction, the parts are like those previously described, except that in this modification, the notches 7"L vare undercut or so cut that their cross sectional shape is substantially a. quadrilateral having at least one acute angle. The advantage of this construction is that the normal tension on the bracelet serves to increase the degree of security with which the interlocking parts engage.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a further modification of my invention. In this construction, the parts are like those described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, eX- cept that in this modification, the notches 7" are cut only partially through the side walls 8 of the housing. The advantage of 110 this construction is that even a close scrutiny fails to kdiscover the adjustability of the clasp.

In Fig. V7, I have illustrated a still further modification of my invention. In this construction, `the parts-are similar to those previously described in connection with Flg. 6, except that the notches 7 are undercutI or so cut that their cross-sectional shape 1s substantially that of a quadrilateral having at least one acute angle. The advantages of this construction are the same as those disclosed in connection with the modification shown in Fig. 5, and in addition those disclosed in connection with the modilicatio shown in Fig. 6.

I claim:

1. A clasp for articles of jewelry comprising a housing adapted to be attached to one end of the article, said housing having side walls, a member having a portion thereof secured to the other end of sald article, and formations on said member and the side walls of said housing, respectively, consisting of ositively engaging projections and depress1ons, said housing having a cover adapted to-close against said side walls to hold said formations in engagement.

2. A clasp for articles of jewelry comprising a housing adapted to be attached to one end of the article, a member having a portion thereof secured to the other end of said article, and formations arranged adjacent the opposite side edges of the housing and on said member respectively, consisting of positively engaging depressions and projections, said housing having a cover adapted to overlie the housing to hold said formations in engagement.

3. A clasp for articles of jewelr comprising a housing adapted to be attac ed to one en of the article, said housing comprising a body having a plurality of notches thereon, a cooperating member having a portion secured to the other end of the article, said member being adapted to lie within the housing and having tenons extending in substantially the same plane as said portion for engagement with said notches in different positions of attachment, and a covering adapted to overlie the tenons and notches when they are in engagement.

4. In an adjustable clasp for articles of jewelry, the combination of a housing adapted to be attached to one part of an article, said housing comprising two parts hingedly connected, one of said parts having side walls and a plurality of notches on said side walls opening toward thie other of said parts when the two parts of the housing are closed; and a cooperating member adapted to be attached to another part of said article, said member being adapted to fit within said side walls, said notches opening' toward the other of said parts when the two" parts of the housing are closed; and. a cooperating member adapted to be attached to another part of said article, said member being adapted to fit within the 'side walls of said housing, and having a shank-of awidth and length to lie between said side walls, said shank beingl provided with undercut tenons, substantially as described, adapted to engage said notches invvariou's positions of adjustment.

6. In an adjustable clasp ed to be attached to one part of an article, said housing comprising 'two parts hingedly connected, one of said parts having side walls, and a plurality of notches on the inner face of said side walls, said notches opening toward the other of said parts when the two parts of the housing are closed; and a cooperating member adapted to be attached to another part of said article, said member being adapted to lit within the side walls of said housing, and having a shank of a Width and length to lie between said side walls, said shank being provided with tenons adapted to engage said notches .in various positions of adjustment. c

7. In an adjustable clasp for articles of jewelry, the combination of a housing adapted'to be attached to one part of an article, said housing comprising two parts hingedly connected, one of said parts having side Walls, and a plurality of undercut notches on the inner face of said side walls, substantially as .described,'vs}aid4 notches opening toward the other of said parts when the two vparts of the housing are closed, and a cooperating member adapted to beA at'- tached to another part of said article, said member being adapted to fit'within' the side -walls of said housing, andhaving ashank of a width and length tolie' betweenjsaid side walls, said shank being provided with undercut tenons, substantiallyas described, adapted to engage said notches in various positions of adjustment. o l

t-In testimony whereof I' ailix my signaure EDWARD BRASIER DONALDSON.

for articles ofk jewelry, the combination of a-housing adapt-' 

